As you may have seen, pre-orders are starting to appear for the wireless Nintendo 64 Switch controllers in different territories, which will offer us retro-heads a rather fun way to try out the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pass titles when they land on 25th/26th October. You have to have a standard NSO subscription to buy it though, which is quirky considering the standard sub doesn't get you the N64 games but... let's move on.
We already know about various extra buttons and indicators that make it compatible with the Switch, but a fun detail in the product description also confirms rumble. This writer had assumed that would be the case, which was probably silly, but in any case it is a feature.
Form Factor – Play enhanced Nintendo 64™ games the way they're meant to be played— using a full-size Nintendo 64 style controller!
Rumble Functionality – Rumble support in compatible games, such as Star Fox™ 64 – no Rumble Pak™ required!
Rechargeable Battery – Use the included USB A-C cable to charge the controller
For those of you that haven't ever owned a Nintendo 64, the Rumble Pak was a revelation at the time, though as early tech it was also a rather awkward and bulky clip-on to the controller. It would also get carried away at times, so we hope it's authentically vicious in the new controllers (it probably won't be).
So there you have it, all the joys of a Rumble Pak but without the Pak - what a time to be alive.
Comments 59
I just have to know, what is inside the expansion port on the back? Looking at the picture it's safe to say they didn't hide the charging port there.
That's hilarious, i love it!
“Ugh, it’s hideous!”
-Lord Farquaad, Shrek (2001)
This controller should come included at that new NSO price.
I like how it says ‘enhanced Nintendo 64 games’. Could have sworn it was just the original ROMs?
@nessisonett You can play them online, so that would be an enhancement over the originals.
@nessisonett It's also possible they are referring to the save state features and online multiplayer.
What about controller paks? And will I be able to bring my nfl blitz playbook to the arcade?
kinda wanna use it for Smash Bros. Ultimate.
@nessisonett online play, save states, and higher resolution. Those are enhanced from the N64 days.
I can't believe it's wireless!
Anyhoo, ordered one. Of course.
@sketchturner I think the 20€ NSO price increase is reasonable, it also lets you play the AC DLC. And finally EU seems to get a more fair pricing as well (EU’s 46$ Next to USA’s 50$) compared to previously direct $>€ ratios.
I preordered my N64 gamepad, can’t wait!
But is the expansion slot functional? If they release compatible games, can I use Transfer Pak, for exemple?
of course it has rumble! this is great
also using this for smash would be the true ultimate experience
Okay forget everything I said, I'm so getting that controller.
Hi, I need help, I don't live in the UK and the question is if any of you would like to help me with buying a controller? I would appreciate your help!
Ah @ThomasWhitehead. It's great to have you back. Such crisp, punchy writing. Like a light breeze ruffling autumn leaves with a sprinkle of modest humour! Lovely.
I want it but I am definitely waiting for reviews to see how that stick holds up before I get one, I may be one of the few but I love the form factor of the N64 controller.
Highly doubt it, but I'd love it if they still supported old Rumble Paks, regardless. Modern rumble just can't measure up to the unregulated power of 90s controllers.
@ferryb001 As someone who has zero interest in the Animal Crossing content, the price increase is crazy high. It's comparable to PS Plus pricing, which includes a couple new modern games every month.
Meanwhile, the NSO release of games is super slow and the quality is highly questionable. And they're games that are 2-3 decades old.
Now for that transfer pak...
Can this play NSW games on the Switch not just online?
Nice for the games it supports. Rumble was a massive feature at the time.
@SwitchForce yes. Just how you can use the nes and snes controllers to play switch games. Not practical. Stick with the joy cons or pro controller.
Huh. You sure you didn't want to squeeze more money out of us by selling us a Rumble Pak for another 30 bucks? XD
Sold out in 15mins, 20mins later on ebay...because they put the limit of 4. Now I'm reminded why we hack Nintendo. And I would've paid for the upgrade if I got even ONE controller.
""No Rumble Pak required" - Oh Nintendo, you crack us up" Le epic funny, says them. I say "Got it.", and move on.
Can you use this on a real N64?
i never used the rumble pack for the Nintendo 64 except in Super Smash brothers. i hope that the feature can be disable. i don't want the feature in Super Mario 64 and a few other games, but that just might be me.
also, i wonder what games would work with the new controller? possibly Super Mario Odyssey, Super Smash Brothers, Mario Kart, Luigi's Mansion?
@SamirMalik you probably can. some companies have bad Bluetooth controllers for the N64 so give or take certain things it should work. i might even give it a try myself.
@Broosh
Its for a RAM-expansion pack for the Switch-console. You can fit a 8GB LPDDR5-madule in the controller and use it for enhanced user experience while playing with the cable plugged in.
@Knuckles also rendered at higher resolution.
@DaniPooo Are the games confirmed to be upscaled to 480p or 720p?
@nessisonett they're higher resolution than playing on an original n64.
@Knuckles I can tell just by looking at it. They are all running natively at 720p. Trust me n64 games look a lot blurrier on authentic hardware.
I'd maybe pay the extra if a huge amount of N64 games, including ones from publishers other than nintendo, were available at launch, but there is no way i'm spending $40 more on the family plan for a handful of games.
@1UP_MARIO Nice clean looking controller, I keep mine like that too.
@andykara2003 thanks. Mine does have scratches on the right and back but the photo hides them well.
Probably a stupid and unrealistic thing to hope for, but it would be nice if the n64 controller could be paired to the Wii U. I've got a lot of n64 games on there that just don't play right on any of the wii u controllers.
Wasn't there other accessories that plug into that slot, other than the rumble pack and save cards? Like something to do with game boy color, or pokemon?
It's going to feel different though
And yet they kept the bulky rumble pak port. Guess you cant mess with the design of the ugliest/greatest controller ever.
Also I keep seeing promotional pictures of people holding the controller wrong and it's really bothering me more than it should.
@Knuckles I don’t know if they have specified what resolution they will run at, but they specifically said “higher resolution”
Kind of wish the rumble pack was separate and could be “locked and loaded” for the full experience.
@dustinprewitt
Yeah, there was a Game Boy Transfer Pak you could use to load Pokemon from your GB games to Pokemon Staduim. You could also play your GB game within Pokemon Stadium if it was connected via this pak (only Pokemon, not other games). It was neat.
@stevenw45 Mario 64 only had rumble support in the "Shindou" release that was included in the 3D All-Stars pack. It looks like the version on the Nintendo Online app will be the standard release.
@Gravitron there is no wrong way to hold an N64 controller; the whole point of the controller was there were three different ways to hold it. if they're showing someone holding it in home position while playing a game that used the stick, then that's wrong, but if it's just a shot of the controller with no indication of what game is being played, then they could just be playing one of the games that uses the d-pad, which is why they put a handle there.
@nessisonett Rewind feature and online functionality/play
How generous of them. I was thinking it'd cost about 30$ extra per year for rumble, and they disable it remotely if you don't renew.
This is one of the best controllers, I love that I can have that prong in the middle to ignore the dpad. I'm glad I got some before it sold out.
Honestly never saw the point of vibrating controllers. It's like when you can see dirt or splatter on the lens in a movie. It's not more realistic. It reminds you that there's a camera there. My hands vibrating don't immerse me in the game. It reminds me I'm holding a controller. It was a neat gimmick back in '96 and I guess it could be useful in a fishing game? Obviously it's part of the N64 experience but it just doesn't do anything do for me.
Oh you had me at rumble. I’ll take two please.
@Angelic_Lapras_King They are selling you a 3 Button Genesis pad for $50 though.
lol i was already set and ready to pop in my old rumble pak into that controller for that old retro N64 rumbling experience from back in the day! 😂
It would be really cool if that controller actually had a usable slot in the back compatible with all the old N64 controller accessories like the memory pak, rumble pak, force pak, and transfer pak (and others idk about) that would be really cool! 😁
Hoping that high nso price means they will have actually worth while games added to the service going forward. Surprised this has rumble out of the box and Nintendo didn’t try to justify selling separate rumble packs for “nostalgia” at a ridiculous price
@ferryb001
Americans will be paying $54-55 for NSO + Expansion Pack once tax is factored in.
I'm still waiting for more information about the control stick and the controller's versatility of compatibility before I even consider a purchase. For $50, it has to be compatible with more than just the Switch and the control stick should be at least GameCube-level quality.
I hope the joystick is more durable
I'm looking forward to getting this for Mario Maker 2, it will be nice to have a good d-pad with a controller that has rumble, unlike the SNES controller. Should be fun with Smash Bros. and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as well or Mario 3D World, or even some of the old NES and SNES games might be fun playing with one of these.
@Dpishere The stick isn't great, but I've also been spoiled by modded N64 controllers for years. About a decade ago I swapped the N64 thumb sticks out for Gamecube ones, worked like a dream
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